Repacking trailer wheel bearings

[wwillson]

I repacked the wheel bearings on all four wheels of our 5th wheel trailer this weekend. It's not a difficult job, but somewhat time consuming with the need to completely clean the lithium complex grease out of the bearings and hubs because I switched to an aluminum complex grease. The bearings were ok, but not in great shape. Details here:

https://rvthe.us/community/threads/repacking-wheel-bearings-on-our-new-horizons-5th-wheel.1104/

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

I repacked the wheel bearings on all four wheels of our 5th wheel trailer this weekend. It's not a difficult job, but somewhat time consuming with the need to completely clean the lithium complex grease out of the bearings and hubs because I switched to an aluminum complex grease. The bearings were ok, but not in great shape. Details here:

https://rvthe.us/community/threads/repacking-wheel-bearings-on-our-new-horizons-5th-wheel.1104/

I was about to ask you what brand of grease you used but I see it’s HPL grease.

 

[mattd]

That’s on my list of things do do before the season starts

 

[CarbonToast]

I see you were skeptical of the EZ Lube axle. I am too. Mine was full of hard dried grease.

Has anyone successfully used the dexter EZ Lube zerks?

 

[spasm3]

I see you were skeptical of the EZ Lube axle. I am too. Mine was full of hard dried grease.

Has anyone successfully used the dexter EZ Lube zerks?

In have. My first travel trailer I used them exclusively. Trailer went from 2005 to 2018 with original bearings. I only inspected the brakes. Zero issues, but you have to do it right.

My current trailer also has the Dexter EZ lube axle.

When greasing, I take the trailer out for a 10-15 mile run, to get the hubs warm, to warm the old grease. Come home, Jack up the trailer and spin each wheel while SLOWLY pumping the grease in as the old grease comes out. Do this on all four hubs.

If you pump in the grease too fast it will leak out of the seals and contaminate the brakes.

I have never had to replace a trailer wheel bearing , using this method. I also greased the wheel bearings when the trailer was new, as soon as I got it home from the dealer.

 

[D60]

I see you were skeptical of the EZ Lube axle. I am too. Mine was full of hard dried grease.

Has anyone successfully used the dexter EZ Lube zerks?

I need to see a cutaway of how they work because from what I've seen of the spindles I fail to understand how they can push fresh grease THROUGH both bearings.

I stock a ton of seals and just pull it apart. Stuff them in the Lisle packer for 2 seconds (arbor press) and reassemble.

 

[BrendanC]

I repacked the wheel bearings on all four wheels of our 5th wheel trailer this weekend. It's not a difficult job, but somewhat time consuming with the need to completely clean the lithium complex grease out of the bearings and hubs because I switched to an aluminum complex grease. The bearings were ok, but not in great shape. Details here:

https://rvthe.us/community/threads/repacking-wheel-bearings-on-our-new-horizons-5th-wheel.1104/

i just want the HPL grease

 

[Tman220]

Looks good. Next time find the dual lip seals which tend to do a tad better especially when there are brakes involved. If those are 3500 lb axles a likely candidate would be National # 473336

 

[Tman220]

I just noticed the 8 stud pattern, not 3500 lbs axles... haha but there should still be dual lip seals available.

 

[spasm3]

I need to see a cutaway of how they work because from what I've seen of the spindles I fail to understand how they can push fresh grease THROUGH both bearings.

Here it is. If you don't spin the wheels you could leave old grease in there.

I'm betting those with wheel bearing failures are just pumping the grease into the bearings with the tire on the ground static.

 

[wwillson]

Looks good. Next time find the dual lip seals which tend to do a tad better especially when there are brakes involved. If those are 3500 lb axles a likely candidate would be National # 473336

These are 8k axles.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I see you were skeptical of the EZ Lube axle. I am too. Mine was full of hard dried grease.

Has anyone successfully used the dexter EZ Lube zerks?

I used them very successfully on my 2014 TT since buying it in 2016. I repacked the bearings in 2023 and they looked great. News seals and on we went. I think the secret is to raise the wheel and spin it as you pump the grease in.

Just my $0.02

 

[spasm3]

I used them very successfully on my 2014 TT since buying it in 2016. I repacked the bearings in 2023 and they looked great. News seals and on we went. I think the secret is to raise the wheel and spin it as you pump the grease in.

Just my $0.02

Exactly, If you don't spin the wheel, you push grease through one small area of the bearings, leaving old grease, or minimal grease in the rest of the bearing circumference.

 

[burbguy82]

I repacked the wheel bearings on all four wheels of our 5th wheel trailer this weekend. It's not a difficult job, but somewhat time consuming with the need to completely clean the lithium complex grease out of the bearings and hubs because I switched to an aluminum complex grease. The bearings were ok, but not in great shape. Details here:

https://rvthe.us/community/threads/repacking-wheel-bearings-on-our-new-horizons-5th-wheel.1104/

great write up......I have 14 of those to do at some point....cringe.....

there is another forum ? is that for RVs? Could i sign up?

 

[GON]

One of the things I learned from this thread was Dexter directs lifting the trailer, not the axle when needing to raise the wheel. Makes sense, but I guess something that is overlooked at times.

 

[Donald]

I see you were skeptical of the EZ Lube axle. I am too. Mine was full of hard dried grease.

Has anyone successfully used the dexter EZ Lube zerks?

Do you blame EZ Lube axle for the hard grease or just old and or crappy grease?

 

[wwillson]

there is another forum ? is that for RVs? Could i sign up?

Yes, sign up here:

https://rvthe.us/community/register

 

[aba4430]

Good job, OP. My Sure-Trac tandem axle (7K, 16') trailer uses Lippert SuperLube hubs. I greased all four wheels last fall and used Shell Rotella HD grease. The original grease that was pushed out was fine and not hard; it was after 1-year of trailer ownership. I watched several YouTube videos and read up instructions on the Lippert site. Though I have a cordless Dewalt grease gun, used a manual grease gun and went slow while rotating each wheel. Used @2.5 tubes of the rotella HD grease total on the 4 wheels. Trailer performs well.

 

[CarbonToast]

Do you blame EZ Lube axle for the hard grease or just old and or crappy grease?

I blame lack of service. It was 2-3 years old when I became the owner. Like someone else mentioned, they used the EZ Lube from day 1 and regularly pumped new grease in. That is probably key to success.

 

[CapitalTruck]

I used them very successfully on my 2014 TT since buying it in 2016. I repacked the bearings in 2023 and they looked great. News seals and on we went. I think the secret is to raise the wheel and spin it as you pump the grease in.

Just my $0.02

And its says clearly to do just that in the Dexter manual that I guess nobody reads except the few people on this thread. For me the tires/brakes/bearing lube are the most neurotically checked things on the trailer. I have this fear that if something goes bad it could put the whole rig right in the ditch.